NBA executives plan to meet African government officials during the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the league advances efforts to sell permanent Basketball Africa League franchises to private investors, according to Sports Business Journal. The NBA plans to sell as many as 10 franchises.
Prospective investors from Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa submitted initial bids in June, with several offers exceeding $50 million, the publication reported. The NBA hired investment bank Moelis & Company to advise on the sales process and evaluate prospective owners and markets.
Created by the NBA and FIBA, the BAL completed its sixth season in 2026 and currently fields 12 teams through domestic qualification and FIBA's Road to BAL tournaments. Under the proposed model, 10 privately owned teams would receive permanent places in the league from 2027, while two additional teams would continue to qualify through annual competition.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum has said the league wants investors to build long-term operations and support local arena development. Existing BAL clubs, newly created teams and basketball divisions launched by established football clubs could pursue permanent franchises.
The BAL said more than 110,000 fans attended games during the 2026 season in South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda, with the league recording more than 1.1 billion social media views and 22 commercial and institutional partners. The NBA plans to discuss its franchise strategy with African officials before continuing negotiations with preferred bidders, with government cooperation potentially influencing venue development.
